With Oklahoma ranking low in food security and high in experience rates of trauma, public health researchers and practitioners alike are seeking solutions to both challenges.

Dr. Marianna Wetherill, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, has teamed up with multiple community organizations to promote trauma-informed nutrition in Oklahoma.

“Food insecurity is one of the biggest social-related health challenges in Oklahoma, which ranks 46th worst for food security in the nation. Although increasing community access to more nutritious, affordable foods is an immediate need in our state, we also need to consider how other forms of life adversity, including trauma, may contribute to unmet food needs,” Wetherill said.

The NOURISH-OK project, a NIDDK-funded R01 study, takes personal experiences into account when addressing issues of adversity and specifically, food insecurity.

“The NOURISH-OK study is exploring the relationships between trauma and food insecurity risk among people living with HIV in Oklahoma,” Wetherill said.

In April, Wetherill co-facilitated a workshop in Tulsa with Leah’s Pantry, HaruvUSA and the OU School of Social Work. Over 100 healthcare professionals, social service and nutrition program directors, and educators attended the event, where they reflected on community engagement strategies and learned how to incorporate trauma-formed patient-centered and community-centered initiatives.

Although celebrating a successful event, the team is continuing to look for more opportunities to connect their work with Oklahoman communities in the future. “We look forward to applying these concepts in our food is medicine work,” Wetherill said.

For more information about NOURISH-OK and their future projects, please visit https://www.facebook.com/people/NOURISH-OK-Study/100078475880931/.